as in winds
an air movement that is blowing toward something (such as a ship or an airplane) as it moves forward
Stiff headwinds caused the flight to take longer than expected.
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Recent Examples of headwinds
On the other hand, some cautioned that the company may face upcoming headwinds as AI search competition ramps up.
—
Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
In the big leagues, as brands from Cartier to Van Cleef & Arpels meet regional headwinds, domestic jewelry labels are soaring.
—Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
Travel Warning Adding to Cambodia’s tourism headwinds is the sharp warning Seoul issued after a South Korean student was tortured and killed in Cambodia in August.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Stichter noted that third-quarter profit was guided below consensus due to tariff headwinds of $60 million to $70 million in the second half.
—Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
The Sundance Institute workers’ request for voluntary recognition of their union comes after years of headwinds for the Sundance Institute, which is behind the eponymous festival, as well as year-long filmmaker programs and labs.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
The company faced headwinds in its 2025 upfront sales session, owing to the loss of NBA rights, which moved this season to NBCUniversal and Amazon.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
This song has the makings of an essential track for young women facing harsh headwinds, feeling like wise perspectives and a warm hug wrapped together.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 27 Oct. 2025
Chapman’s tenure at the SBC Executive Committee from 1992 to 2009 encountered similar economic and political headwinds that plagues the SBC today, yet many Southern Baptists remember that time for Chapman’s determination to push past those hurdles for the sake of growing local churches.
—Liam Adams, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Oct. 2025
Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
In the big leagues, as brands from Cartier to Van Cleef & Arpels meet regional headwinds, domestic jewelry labels are soaring.
—Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
Travel Warning Adding to Cambodia’s tourism headwinds is the sharp warning Seoul issued after a South Korean student was tortured and killed in Cambodia in August.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Stichter noted that third-quarter profit was guided below consensus due to tariff headwinds of $60 million to $70 million in the second half.
—Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
The Sundance Institute workers’ request for voluntary recognition of their union comes after years of headwinds for the Sundance Institute, which is behind the eponymous festival, as well as year-long filmmaker programs and labs.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
The company faced headwinds in its 2025 upfront sales session, owing to the loss of NBA rights, which moved this season to NBCUniversal and Amazon.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
This song has the makings of an essential track for young women facing harsh headwinds, feeling like wise perspectives and a warm hug wrapped together.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 27 Oct. 2025
Chapman’s tenure at the SBC Executive Committee from 1992 to 2009 encountered similar economic and political headwinds that plagues the SBC today, yet many Southern Baptists remember that time for Chapman’s determination to push past those hurdles for the sake of growing local churches.
—Liam Adams, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headwinds
winds
Noun
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Why Wet Leaves Are Worse Than Dry Ones When dry leaves fall on your lawn, there's a chance that the winds of fate will carry them into your neighbor's yard.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
30 Oct. 2025
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As of now, this looks like a manageable storm, albeit one with the usual hazards from gusty winds to heavy rain to rough seas and high tides in Newfoundland.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Headwinds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headwinds. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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